[Bloomberg] Xbox's Hike on Game Pass Shows Cost of Lost 'Call of Duty' Sales (more than $300M across console/pc lost)

[Gizmo_Duck]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-03/xbox-s-game-pass-hike-shows-cost-of-lost-call-of-duty-sales?srnd=undefined&embedded-checkout=true

Xbox gave up more than $300 million in sales of Call of Duty on console and PCs last year, according to one of the former employees, who asked not to be identified discussing internal estimates.

"Game Pass hasn't delivered the explosive growth Microsoft anticipated post-Activision, and they've realized their infrastructure costs don't align with their pricing model," said Joost Van Dreunen, founder of the video-game analytics firm Aldora.

Putting Call of Duty on Game Pass was a great deal for subscribers, but not great for Xbox's sales of the game, according to former employees with knowledge of the business. While the latest iteration of the shooting title,Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, was the top selling video game in the US last year, and the biggest ever for the franchise, that was largely due to Sony's PlayStation, which accounted for 82% of sales, the trade publication IGN reported.

 

[gurf]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-03/xbox-s-game-pass-hike-shows-cost-of-lost-call-of-duty-sales?srnd=undefined&embedded-checkout=true

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

Its almost like what everyone said would happen, happened

 

[winb83]

This is irrelevant to the consumer. Their job is to consume via avenues made available to them not be concerned with a corporation's profitability.

 

[gurf]

This is irrelevant to the consumer. Their job is to consume via avenues made available to them not be concerned with a corporation's profitability.

It’s relevant because this is the root cause of all of the price hikes across the Xbox brand over the last few years

 

[duncanthetall]

Wasn’t buying fukk ass Call of Duty anyways. But I was a subscriber to XBL essentially since it came out. Eat a dikk, MS

 

[In The Zone '98]

Buying COD and putting in on Playstation anyway was pointless

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

This is irrelevant to the consumer. Their job is to consume via avenues made available to them not be concerned with a corporation's profitability.

Literally lead to $30 gamepass and a loss of other incentives with the service but sure lol

 

[winb83]

It’s relevant because this is the root cause of all of the price hikes across the Xbox brand over the last few years

The tariffs were the cause of Xbox hardware price hikes. The market also doesn't find Xbox hardware appealing to begin with which is why sales collapsed.

As for the subscription service going up that was bound to happen at some point and you aren't required to subscribe you can just buy the games like normal.

This is concerned trolling. None of this stuff really matters. Microsoft will do as they see fit and the market will determine if it's acceptable or not. As their games are everywhere anyway it's irrelevant.

 

[winb83]

Literally lead to $30 gamepass and a loss of other incentives with the service but sure lol

One tier of Game Pass is $30. Also this is rich coming from a person that bemoaned the entire existence of the service and actively wanted it to fail. Hard to make the argument the side you wanted to lose actually losing is bad.

 

[ORDER_66]

Bought all these companies and LOSING.... bruh... it still boggles the mind...

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

One tier of Game Pass is $30. Also this is rich coming from a person that bemoaned the entire existence of the service and actively wanted it to fail. Hard to make the argument the side you wanted to lose actually losing is bad.

What other subscription service had a 50% price increase recently? In order to play COD day one on gamepas you have to pay 30+ dollars lol you think thats a coincidence?

And yes, im glad gamepass failed becuase imagine being stuck in a streaming nightmare under microsoft or even sony with all your games

 

[winb83]

What other subscription service had a 50% price increase recently? In order to play COD day one on gamepas you have to pay 30+ dollars lol you think thats a coincidence?

And yes, im glad gamepass failed becuase imagine being stuck in a streaming nightmare under microsoft or even sony with all your games

PlayStation Plus had a price increase of 30% across all tiers and subscribers got nothing for that price increase at all.

Game Pass on the highest tier went up 50% with added benefits even if you don't find them appealing the lesser tiers mostly remained the same prices they were.

As for this streaming nightmare crap that's nonsense because as you've always been able to you could still buy the games individually if you wanted.

 

[gurf]

One tier of Game Pass is $30. Also this is rich coming from a person that bemoaned the entire existence of the service and actively wanted it to fail. Hard to make the argument the side you wanted to lose actually losing is bad.

The service is cool, but it’s obvious what the play was/is.

They just ran the play too early and pissed off the gamers.

Price physical high, keep discounts outside of GP minimal (10% or so). Raise pricing on consoles then scream “why you paying for that, just get gamepass on any screen”

From there add ads, GP exclusives, etc

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

As for this streaming nightmare crap that's nonsense because as you've always been able to you could still buy the games individually if you wanted.

Becuase there’s too much competition, if gamepass had actually worked like they said we might not get that option, just like original streaming movies.

Anyway, i dont know whats left to argue, gamepass never made sense from a financial standpoint and they never adopted enough players to make it worth it for them. Its done, they are just going to keep ganking their 30-35m subscribers until they’re forced to end it